The day after the two returned from Prime Minister Gao’s residence, Xiao Yinxue prepared to present the pearl ginseng to the Empress Dowager.
Di Shengyue accompanied her to the palace.
However, before they reached the Empress Dowager’s palace, they were stopped by an eunuch.
“Imperial Son-in-Law, Consort Li requests your presence,” the eunuch said, bowing respectfully to Di Shengyue.
Xiao Yinxue frowned slightly upon hearing this, and the hand gripping Di Shengyue’s tightened subconsciously.
“What does Consort Li want?” Xiao Yinxue asked.
“Consort Li is very grateful to the Imperial Son-in-Law for saving her a few days ago,” the eunuch replied. “So, she would like to invite the Imperial Son-in-Law to a small gathering in the palace to express her gratitude.”
Xiao Yinxue was about to refuse, but Di Shengyue preempted her by cupping her hands and saying, “In that case, I trouble the Eunuch to wait a moment. I will speak a few words with the Princess and then come.”
The eunuch glanced at the two of them, nodded, and stepped aside to wait.
“You shouldn’t have agreed,” Xiao Yinxue’s eyebrows were tightly furrowed, her eyes filled with disapproval.
There is no good in unsolicited courtesy—this Consort Li, who can charm the Emperor so completely, is definitely not a simple person!
The thought of Di Shengyue meeting her alone made Xiao Yinxue extremely uncomfortable.
“Princess, don’t worry, I’ll be back soon,” Di Shengyue patted Xiao Yinxue’s hand reassuringly.
Xiao Yinxue’s grip tightened further: “I’ll go with you…”
Di Shengyue placed her index finger on Xiao Yinxue’s lips, a smile playing on her face, and said, “Princess, I know you love me so much that you can’t bear to be separated from me for even a moment. But now that Consort Li has requested it, I cannot refuse.”
Xiao Yinxue was both embarrassed and anxious, her clear, rippling eyes filling with a flush of irritation: “Who, who loves you!”
“Princess, there’s no need to pretend, you just can’t bear to part with me.” Di Shengyue continued, her smile teasing. “How about this, if you truly cannot stand being apart from me, I can take off my outer garment and leave it with you as a keepsake.”
As Di Shengyue spoke, she made a gesture as if to take off her jacket.
“You! You are shameless!” Xiao Yinxue’s fair face instantly turned crimson.
Di Shengyue had exasperated her.
“I’m not speaking to you anymore!” Xiao Yinxue finished her sentence and turned to leave.
Watching Xiao Yinxue’s almost fleeing back, Di Shengyue curved her lips into a smile.
Teasing Xiao Yinxue never grew old.
Xiao Yinxue walked faster and faster, the heat on her cheeks refusing to dissipate.
She was not only angered by Di Shengyue’s brazenness but also mostly by shame.
Just now, for some unknown reason, a vision of Di Shengyue’s clothes wrapping around her, and Di Shengyue’s scent closely enveloping her, floated into her mind.
Xiao Yinxue’s cheeks were uncontrollably flushed.
In truth, the most shameless person was her.
But this was something she would absolutely never let Di Shengyue know.
Di Shengyue had had her fill of smiling, adjusted her collar, and walked toward the eunuch.
There was still a slight sense of regret in her heart; she had sincerely intended to give her clothing to Xiao Yinxue just now.
The thought of her own clothes tightly enveloping Xiao Yinxue sent a thrill through her.
What a pity that Xiao Yinxue was too thin-skinned and would not agree.
Di Shengyue walked with the eunuch for a while until they arrived at Consort Li’s residence, the “Cloud Immortal Palace.”
Di Shengyue looked up at the name of the palace, written in bold, sweeping strokes, her eyes darkening slightly. This palace name was enough to prove how much the Emperor cared for Consort Li.
Stepping into the main hall, a figure in purple waited for her. Today, Consort Li wore a white dress with a purple gauze draped over it, perfectly outlining her graceful figure. Just looking at her back was captivating.
“You may all leave,” Consort Li’s voice was very pleasant, her tone slightly raised, carrying a hint of flirtatiousness.
However, Di Shengyue thought that compared to the unconscious charm that naturally emanated from Xiao Yinxue, it still fell short.
After the servants left, Consort Li turned around.
This was the first time Di Shengyue had seen Consort Li’s true face, and she was momentarily taken aback.
Her features were extremely delicate, her phoenix eyes slightly upturned, making her look seductive and captivating. Her deep eyes once again threatened to draw her in.
Di Shengyue’s brows furrowed deeply, and her gaze towards Consort Li held a greater sense of caution.
Consort Li covered her mouth and chuckled lightly, her thin lips curving upwards, her voice becoming even more seductive: “Indeed, what I sensed that day was not my imagination.”
“Soul-Seduction Art?” Di Shengyue frowned.
Legend has it that a long time ago, the State of Si had a Soul-Seduction Art that could make the seduced subject obey you completely without realizing it. Later, the State of Si disintegrated for unknown reasons, and the Soul-Seduction Art was no longer mentioned.
“If it were truly the Soul-Seduction Art, the State of Xiao would be named Wei by now,” Consort Li laughed. “It’s merely a low-level enchantment technique. It’s just that I possess a natural bewitching bone structure, so it is more effective when I use it. It works against those with weak willpower, but didn’t it have no effect on the Imperial Son-in-Law?”
The practice of enchantment focuses on these captivating eyes.
Many concubines in the palace dabble in it, if only to make their eyes more alluring and pitiful. If one does not possess Consort Li’s natural charm, it is truly useless.
“Did the Consort summon me just to try the enchantment technique again?” Di Shengyue asked straightforwardly.
“Of course not,” Consort Li smiled faintly. “I wanted to ask the Imperial Son-in-Law, where is the ancient jade pendant I left behind?”
Di Shengyue raised an eyebrow upon hearing this.
This Consort Li was quite straightforward, not beating around the bush at all, and directly admitted that the assassination attempt in the capital was orchestrated by her.
Since she was so direct, Di Shengyue decided not to mince words either and said, “Leaving the jade pendant was an unnecessary step. The Emperor is a suspicious person; not only would he not believe it, but he would also become wary of you.”
“I truly did not misjudge the General.” Consort Li pointed to a nearby seat, gesturing for Di Shengyue to sit down. “General Di is indeed the God of War of the State of Xiao. The State of Xiao does not cherish you, but my State of Wei greatly values talent. Would the General consider cooperating with me? After the matter is settled, I can ask my father to grant you a fiefdom, where you can establish yourself as king.”
This was a very generous offer; an ordinary person would have been tempted immediately.
However, Di Shengyue’s eyes remained calm and unperturbed. Consort Li saw no hint of intention to agree, which surprised her somewhat.
Di Shengyue shook her head and said, “The State of Xiao is currently strong. Even if the Consort uses every means to confuse the Emperor, it will be impossible to take down the State of Xiao easily. It will only lead to a mutual defeat, and there is a possibility that other countries might take advantage and annex us.”
Although Consort Li was clever and had some tricks, she was not politically astute.
With Di Shengyue’s prompt, Consort Li immediately realized the situation.
“Consort, the Inner Palace and the Imperial Court have countless ties,” Di Shengyue looked at Consort Li, her eyes full of wisdom, and said, word by word, “Instead of confusing the Emperor so that he cannot handle state affairs for a period, why not stir up chaos in the Inner Palace completely? When there is fire in the rear court, the front court will inevitably become unstable.”
Consort Li looked at Di Shengyue for a long time.
She walked closer to Di Shengyue, her thin lips curving into a very charming smile: “The General truly lives up to the title of General. I feel sorry for your current situation. It’s a shame the General already has a wife, otherwise, I would quite like a type like the General.”
“Thank you for your appreciation, Consort,” Di Shengyue cupped her hands, stood up from her seat, and took a step back.
“The General is a little insensitive to romance,” Consort Li chuckled.
“If the Consort has no further instructions, I will take my leave,” Di Shengyue did not wish to interact with Consort Li any further and turned to leave.
After Di Shengyue left, Consort Li’s accompanying maid asked, “Consort, why did you try to win her over? No matter how great her military achievements, she is nothing but a caged bird now.”
“A caged bird can also transform into a soaring eagle,” Consort Li said slowly. “Moreover, she is one of only two people I have encountered in this palace who are completely unaffected by me. People with firm minds and clear goals are rare in this world. I didn’t expect the Inner Palace of the State of Xiao to be so diverse. It’s quite interesting.”